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Rose Hill Middle School Site Plan - a stand of trees buffers the southern residential community |
UPDATED OPINION: The public is invited to comment on this project on October 4, 7:30 PM at Redmond City Hall. There should be ample time for the public to comment - 10 minutes is provided.
The new Rose Hill Middle School and Stella Schola Choice School project application was recommended with conditions August 22nd by the Hearing Examiner. The 143,000 sq. ft. school, with 90 new parking stalls, will be located on the same 23 acre parcel as the old Junior High. Estimated construction cost is $49,158,000. The new school is slated for construction in 2012 while the Junior High is in session. Address: 13505 NE 75th Street, Redmond.
The new Rose Hill Middle School and Stella Schola Choice School project application was recommended with conditions August 22nd by the Hearing Examiner. The 143,000 sq. ft. school, with 90 new parking stalls, will be located on the same 23 acre parcel as the old Junior High. Estimated construction cost is $49,158,000. The new school is slated for construction in 2012 while the Junior High is in session. Address: 13505 NE 75th Street, Redmond.
The project City Council Public Meeting Notice of 9/10 is especially confusing.: http://www.redmond.gov/government/publichearingnotices. This link doesn't explain in any way how the public process works and who decides who can speak against whom. I've contacted the city Ombudsman and project planner, sfischer@redmond.gov for clarification and will update this page with their responses.
The record shows intense public participation. For the most part, tree removal, a fuel pipeline, and parking incited the turnout. Three neighborhood meetings were held between April 15 and May 19, 2011. A total of 40 residents turned out. In addition, 56 comments were taken from 9 people during the application process prior to the public Hearing.
The record shows intense public participation. For the most part, tree removal, a fuel pipeline, and parking incited the turnout. Three neighborhood meetings were held between April 15 and May 19, 2011. A total of 40 residents turned out. In addition, 56 comments were taken from 9 people during the application process prior to the public Hearing.
THE CONDITIONS:
TRAFFIC & PARKING: The new school will increase capacity from 654 students to 900 total students, including Stella and portables. The project will generate 642 net new daily trips serviced by three driveways. An expanded parent pick-up/drop-off drive will reduce congestion. A separate bus lane with room for eleven buses will increase traffic efficiency. Parking demand for the events (5-10/year) currently exceeds demand and will continue to do so, even with 60 additional off-street parking spaces and 42 new spaces along entree drives. The project includes 50 student bike racks, most of them covered.
STREET LIGHTING: Streetlights may be required to illuminate the property frontage. Contact: Paul Cho, Transportation Operations (425) 556-2751 with questions.
TREES: Nearly half the trees will be saved; the City of Redmond requires retaining a minimum of 35% significant trees. 228 significant, healthy trees will be removed, including 12 Landmark Trees (greater than 30 inches in diameter). 218 significant trees and six Landmarks will be saved. A stand of trees and 12 inch snag used by foraging Pileated Woodpeckers will be retained along the southern site boundary. A Tree Preservation Map is available for viewing at Redmond City Hall.
THE OLYMPIC PIPELINE: A 400-mile long petroleum pipeline from Ferndale to Portland runs N-S on the eastern boundary along the PSE electric transmission easement. Read More >>
The junior high has been adjacent the pipeline since 1968. The Hearing Examiner concluded, "As conditioned, the proposal would reduce the risks to the existing school use from the pipeline." ie. a) the new school building setback from the pipeline is 290 feet vs. 228-foot setback from the old building. b) classrooms are further away, c) stronger building materials and fire-sprinklers, d) the District must create an emergency plan for pipeline safety. The plan is a public document on file with the City of Redmond. Contact: Steve Fischer, City of Redmond, sfischer@redmond.gov.
During construction: Olympic Pipeline requests no work occur within 10 feet of the pipeline. The district will install a construction limit fence 50 feet from the pipeline. No excavation or landfilling is allowed within the pipeline corridor. Setbacks shall be a minimum of 30 feet from the hazardous pipeline.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: Stormwater treatment is provided in privately maintained facilities (bio-swales, rain gardens, embankments and wet-vaults). Private owners are responsible for maintaining the facilities according to City of Redmond standards. The District and City should monitor the facilities. Contact: Jeff Dendy, City of Redmond, jdendy@redmond.gov 425-556-2890.
*A "CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC MEETING" IS SCHEDULED FOR 10/4 AT 7:30 PM AT CITY HALL. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THE APPLICATION BUT IT'S NOT KNOWN IF THEY WILL MAKE A DECISION. CITY PLANNER MR. FISCHER SAY NO PARTY IS APPEALING. THE PUBLIC CAN SPEAK FOR 10 MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. (See Mr. Fisher's explanation of the process under "comments", below.) Unfortunately, people who have something to say are not attending because they don't know if they'll have time to speak.
Reported By Bob Yoder
Diagram of site plan - LWSD website
*Notice of City Council Public Meeting, http://www.redmond.gov/government/publichearingnotices
Mr. Yoder: There has been no appeal filed on the Rose Hill Middle School project. The Lake Washington School District is seeking a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for the new Rose Hill Middle School that is to be constructed. This is the same type of permit that was recently granted to the expansion at Redmond High School and for the new Ben Rush Elementary School. Each of these projects followed the same format. A CUP is a Type IV permit and requires that a public hearing be held before the Hearing Examiner. In the case of the Rose Hill Middle School project, this meeting took place on August 1 with notice of the hearing going out three weeks prior. Within the notice for the Hearing Examiner’s meeting, information is provided as to how to obtain a copy of the Technical Committee report. Once the Examiner issues her recommendation, the CUP then moves forward to the City Council where they will hold a closed record meeting and make the final decision on the permit. This is not a hearing but a public meeting where ten minutes is provided for those in favor and those who are in opposition to the project to speak to the Council. As I mention before, this is a closed record meeting which limits the discussion to what was placed in the record that was established by the Hearing Examiner. In many cities, the public has no opportunity to speak at a closed record hearing; however, in Redmond we have always included a ten minute opportunity for the public to speak [RMC 2.04.255(C)] with the limitation that the comments be restricted to what is already on the record (no new information). Steven FischerPrincipal Planner
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